Drivers who plan ahead and book parking online will pay cheaper rates as part of pricing changes unveiled today by Melbourne Airport. 

The first price restructure in more than four years will keep daily parking as low as just $12 a day for online bookings but introduce small increases to drive-up rates to help better manage demand. 

More than two thousand car park bays have been closed to facilitate construction of a new express road project, that includes expanded pick-up and drop-off zones for passengers using Terminals 1, 2 and 3. 

The pricing changes will come into effect from Monday the fourth of November and will only apply to passengers who do not book online.   

The airport is also extending its Free Wait Zone times from 30 minutes to 60 minutes to give people the chance to pick up loved ones free of charge or simply wait for an incoming flight to land prior to heading to the terminals. 

Melbourne Airport Chief of Ground Transport, Property and Retail Jai McDermott said the airport was committed to facilitating flexible parking options for all price points while ensuring space for everyone. 

“We are investing a half a billion dollars in a new road network and smoother pick-up and drop-off experience for our customers, but that has necessitated the closure of more than two thousand car park bays,” he said. 

“To help manage the car park and ensure there is space for everyone, we are changing our drive-up prices to reward people who book online. 

“We want people to get the lowest parking rates possible, but we also want to know when to expect them so we’re hopeful this change will help drive an increase in online bookings. 

“This will be the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic we will have touched our parking rates in what has been a high inflationary environment.   

“Our Value rate of $12 a day has proved extremely popular with passengers and that remains unchanged for travellers who book ahead online. 

“Melbourne Airport will remain the cheapest capital city airport for daily parking at just $12 a day for online bookings, which is around a third of the cost you would pay in Sydney or Brisbane.   

“Our parking offering gives passengers choice for all budgets with up to 60 minutes free of charge in our Free Wait Zone and the first 15 minutes in the Terminal Car Park free too. 

“We expect passenger numbers will double over the next twenty years and its imperative that our infrastructure grows in tandem to support this growth, including Melbourne Airport Rail.”  

Background information 

Daily rate changes – Drive up only  

Value parking - $12 to $14  

Terminal - $49 to $54 

Premium - $79 to $84 

Online daily rate 

Value parking- $12 

Terminal - $49 

Premium - $79 

Lowest daily rate at capital city airports:  

Melbourne: $12 

(Avalon: $49) 

Sydney: $41 

Adelaide: $37 

Perth: $35 

Brisbane: $25 

Darwin: $33 

Canberra: $30.5 

Hobart: $26